i8o BOOKS ON FALCONRY. 



326. PALLAS (Petrus). Zoographia Rosso- 

 AsiATiCA, sistens omnium Animalium in extenso Im- 

 perio Rossico et adjacentibus maribus observatorum 

 recensionem, Domicilia, Mores, et Descriptiones, 

 Anatomen atque I cones plurimorum. Auctore Petro 

 Pallas. Petropoli. 1811-31. 3 vols. 4to. 



In the first volume of this work by the Russian naturalist 

 Pallas, will be found many details of interest to falconers under 

 the head of Jerfalcon (p. 325), Falcon (p. 327), Lanner (p. 331), 

 Hobby (p. 332), Merlin (p. 337), Eagle {Berkut, p. 339), 

 Goshawk (p. 367), and Sparrow-hawk (p. 371). The Russian, 

 Tartar, and Calmuck names for these birds are also given, 

 which will be found useful when referring to the Russian works 

 on Falconry hereafter to be mentioned. 



This author particularly mentions the delight v/hich the 

 Empress Catharine II. of Russia took in lark-hawking with 

 Merlins, adding that she used to liberate them at the end of 

 the season, fresh ones being caught for her every year 



(P- 337)- 



Of the eagle trained by the Tartars, and called by them 

 Berkut, he observes : 



"Instruitur praesertim ad Anteloparum, et Luporum Vul- 

 pium.que venation em, et inter duos falconarios in pertica, vel 

 in ligneo sustentaculo stapedi equitis innixo, tecta oculos 

 praefertur." 



A trained eagle, he says, was considered equal in value to 

 two camels : " Docta aquila apud Kirgisos duobus camelis 

 aequiparatur " (p. 339). 



He refers to a white variety of the Goshawk, Asiur palum- 

 barius which is remarkable : — 



" Varietas alba, aestumatissima, rarius circa Uralenses 

 montes, frequentius in Orientali Sibiria, et vulgaris in Cam- 

 schatca, cum gyrfalcone albo observatur; hsec prima aetate 

 albescens, naevia, aetate tota Candida evadit, et ad venationem 

 fortissima habetur. Hanc videtur voluisse Joh. Bell (///«. /. 

 edit. gall. p. 394), e regione Amur fl. in aulam Imp. Chinensium 

 adferii visam " (p. 368). 



